Refrigerator display case



W. T. HUENING.

REFRIGERATOR D|SPLAY CASE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1919.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

mm. @www W. T. HUENING.

HEFRIGERATOR DISPLAY CASE. APPLICATION FILED FEB.24, 1919.

1,409, 1 79, v 1 rammed Mar. 14, 1922.

III| I l0 j!! 40 I0 I. la iii/ III. M3 *f3/" Il' I W IIIIlII 4: a@ W8 If if. I Y 1; mf www.. www ,32 1 mk mxwxm www' @A wa VIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM IT. HUENING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR T PAUL J. DAEMIGKE REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

Application filed February 24, 1919. Serial No. 278,776.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. HUEiyING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerator Display Cases, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a partof my specification.

My invention relates to a display case or counter intended for displaying perishable articles of food, such as meat and the like, and at the same time enable them to be refrigerated or maintained at suitable temperatures.

The invention contemplates a. construction with one or more refrigerant holding cham bers so arranged that ready access thereto, as well as to the various parts of the display compartment or compartments, may be had; while at the same time proper circulation of air within the various compartments, as well as between the compartment or compartments and chamber or chambers will be provided and thus a substantially equal frigid temperature throughout the case or counter maintained.

The invention also has for its object the provision of a construction wherein the air is caused to pass in a direct path from the refrigerant holding chamber or chambers and therefore directly from the refrigerant medium, into the display compartment or compartments: the construction contemplating means whereby the movement or fiow of the refrigerated or chilled air may be more or less controlled.

The invention further contemplates a construction whicli is not only simple and etlicient, but which will permit of its use merely as a display case when desired in sufficiently cold locations or exterior' temperatures, and enable a proper circulation of fresh air through the display compartment or compartments, without, however, permitting ingress of insects and the like.

VMy invention also has for its object the provision of a construction wherein the rising warm air in the display compartment or compartments will not only be caused to flow into the refrigerant-holding chamber `or chambers substantially at the highest point in the display compartment or compartments. but any condensation that may occur will be caused to accumulate or adhere on an exposed chilled metallic surface adjacent the top of the display chamber or chambers and the point of communication with the refrigerant-holding chamber or chambers, and .thus not only assist in chilling the upper portion of the display compartment or compartments, but also prevent condensation or vapor forming on the glass or sight-openings of the case.

Another object of my invention is to provide a` construction provided with ducts or flues for conveying cold air from the refrigerant-holding chambers into the lower part of the display compartment or compartments, as auxiliary means to the direct passages previously referred to, whereby cold air will be conducted as stated, especially iu the event of the direct passages becoming obstructed in any manner.

The objects of my invention, as well as the advantages inherent in the construction, will bc more fully comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my improved refrigerator display case.

Figure 2 is a detail view, in perspective, of the communicating port or opening and auxiliary air duct leading from the refrigerant-holding chamber' into the display compartment.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a. longitudinal vertical sectional view of one end of the display case or counter' illustrating a modified form.

Figure 5 is a detail view, in perspective, of the refrigerant-holding receptacle employed in the modified form shown 1n Figure 4,

In the particular' exemplification of the invention, as disclosed in Figures 1 to 3, the display case, which is preferably of elongated rectangular construction in the nature of a display counter, comprises an outer wall l() of any suitable material, such as wood, and provided with suitable supporting portions or blocks 11, preferably disposed about all sides of the case. 12 represents an inner wall arranged in spaced relation with the outer wall l0; with the intervening space filled with suitable insulating material of cork and the like. as at 13: the inner wall or 14, 14, which, in the exemplifcation, are' rovided at both ends of the display case. e display case, at points intermediate of the 'refrigerant-holding chambers 14, at what may be termed the forward side of the case, consists of glass so as to provide a full or complete view of the interior of display compartment 15 and its contents.

The refrigerant holding chambers are preferably formed with sloping bottoms, as at 16, preferably made of several thicknesses of wood; these bottoms being made to slope downwardly toward the display compartment; with the top surface of the bottomboards preferably brought llush with thetop surface of a bottom strip or sloping filler member 17 (which extends longitudinally toward the center of the display compartment from both refrigerant-holding chambers 14, 14) the filler strips sloping toward the center or drain-point of the counter or case. The space between the sloping bottoms 16 of the chambers 14 and the inner wall 12 of the case is filled in with suitable insulating material, such as cork4 and the like, as shown at 1'8, so that the refrigerant-holding ehambers will also be thoroughly insulated at the bottoms as well as on the three sides disposed toward the outer sides of the display case. The space intermediate of the bottom strip 17 and the bottom of the in- 'ner wall 12 is also iilled in with suitable insulating material, as at 19, thus in turn also providing a composite insulated bottom for the display compartment 15.

The inner walls of the refrigerant-holding chambers 14, as well as the bottom of the display compartment, are preferably lined Awith sheet metal, as at 20 and 21, so as to provide a non-absorbing, moisture shedding lining for said chambers and compartment. With the bottom or filler strip 17 of the display compartment preferably arranged at a slight inclination toward a point centrally intermediate of the refrigerant -holding chambers, a suitable drain is not only provided, but the-display compartment is given slightly greater depth at the central oint by having the bottom extend to a ower plane than that of the chambers 14, thereby enabling the chilled air to flow toward the center of the dis lay compartment.

It is apparent rom the construction shown and described that the chilled air, which naturally seeks a lower level or plane, will be induced to flow toward the center of the display compartment, instead of rising within the display compartment immediately adjacent the refrigerant-holding chambers.

The bottom of the display compartment at its central and lowest point is providedv with a take-off pipe or drain 22 which ex- -tends through the bottom of the case while' the upper end is shown provided with a nipple or flanged member 23 shown screwed onto the end of the pipe 22. yThe nipple 23 and drain tube 22 are situated in a depression formed in the bottom of the display compartment in order that a water-seal may be provided'for the draintube 22; the depression being metal lined and provided with an inverted cup miember 24l which has scalloped or notched edges, as shown in Figure l, in order to permitthe water to pass through into the interior of the inverted cup member 24. The cup-member 24 rests on the horizontally disposed lgange portion of nipple member 23; and is of a depth suiicient to have its up-turned bottom in spaced relation with the tip of nipple 23 and pipe 22 so as to permit free passage of the water. With this construction the 'water coming from the melting ice in the refrigerant-holding chambers 14 will fill the depression about cup lmember 24 and within the same untilit reaches a level above the extended end of tube 22 and the vertically disposed portion of the nipple member 23; and with the notches or scallops of cup member 24 of such depth as not to extend above the plane occupied by `the upper end lof the drain-tube 22, it is evident that air will not be permitted to pass upward`through tube 22 into the display compartment because of the Water-level which will be maintained in the depression and which will ,seal` the notches or scallops in cup-member 24.

The refrigerant-holding chambers 14 are preferably formed by employing a removable metallic receptacle 25, preferably of sheet metal as shown in Figure 1, formed so as to be in snug contact with the metallic lining 20; ythe receptacle 25 being made of the same configuration as the chamber 14 and provided with an opening 26. at the lowest point in the chamber disposed toward` the display compartment. The opening 26 in the receptacle 25, which registers with a similar opening in the wall of the chamber, permits the cold air to'pass directly into the display compartment at the immediate bottom thereof and therefore also from the coldest point in the receptacle. In order to prevent the passage of portions of the ice into the display compartment, I provide the passage 26, which extends the full width of the receptacle 25 and also of the refrigerant-holding chamber 14 as shown in Figure 3, with a suitable grating as at 27 which is held in place at the upper end by means of the metallic flange 28 secured to the side wall of the receptacle 25 while the lower ends of the grating or bars 27 are held in place by means of the upturned flange or lip 29, see Figure 1, formed on the bottom of the receptacle 25. With this construction, it is evident that the spo ice will be prevented from passing into the I display compartment, while at the same time the water, resulting from the melting ice, will be permitted to flow through the grating Onto the downwardly. sloping bottom of the display compartment and toward the drain at the center; the openings in the grating or between the bars or rods 27 being such, however, as to permit free egree of the chilled air from the chambers 14 into the compartment 15.

In order that the refrigerant -holding chamber may maintain as low a temperature as possible therein and also cause the cold air to pass out through the opening 26 at the bottom of the chambers, I prefer to provide the exposed metal side of each chamber disposed toward the display compartment or compartments with an insulated wall, as shown at 30, see Figure 1, composed of several layers of cork-board or other suitable insulating material, encased in a metallic shell or housing 31, which is suitably secured to the metallic wall of the chamber 14. The insulated wall 30 extends throughout the entire width of the refrigerant-holding chamber and throughout a greater portion of the wall in a vertical direction, namely from a point immediately above the opening26tol a point slightly removed from the top of the refrigerant-holding chamber; the metallic shell or housing 31 being made with a sloping top so as to provide a shed of any condensation that may occur on the metallic wall above the housing 31. By having this insulating wall stop short of the upper end of the refrigerantholding chambers,' a small portion of the chilled metallic wall of the refrigerant-holding chambers adjacent the top thereof and at the upper end of the display compartment is left exposed in the display compartment as shown at the point 32 in Figure 1, while the major portion of the metallic wall is insulated and a relatively low temperature maintained in the chamber 14. The insulated wall 30, or rather)l the shell or housing 31 thereof, provides suitable supports for the slatted shelves 33 and 34. In practice, no articles or food-holding trays are to be pla-ced beneath shelf 33, as the space beneath the shelf 33 is to be kept free and unobstructed for the free assage or flow of the cold air discharged rom the chambers 14 through the openings 26 as previously described. The shelves 33 and 34 preferably consist of suitable slats disposed transversely of the case so as to provide interstices or openings for the upward passage of the air; the. shelves 33 and 34 being also supported in any suitable manner on what may be termed the rear side or Wall of the case; or any suitable means of support may be employed. The top wall' of the case is shown extending slightly beyond the -chambers 14 toward the display compartment as at 35, Where the top is shown kerfed to receive the glass 36; the two plates beingpreferably held in spaced relation by means of a spacing strip 36, thereby providing a dead air space between the glass. The rear wall of the display case is formed of the wood partitions 10 and 12 spaced apart as p-reviously described with insulating material therebetween as shown at the sides and bottom of the case and is provided at suitable intervals with properly hinged closure members or doors 37 which are also of double thickness with insulating material between, similar to the walls of the case; the doors being arranged to have snug fit in the openings therefor so as to prevent passage of air; the manner of hanging and supporting the doors 37 being of any suitable well known style.

The tops of the refrigerant holding chambers 14 are provided with heavily insulated lids or covers 38 which are formed so as to extend into the openings or tops ofthe chambers in the manner shown; the immediate tops of the lids being shown disposed horizontally beyond the openings of the chambers so as to overlap the top of the case; the

margin or overlapping portions of the cov- A ers 38 being preferably provided with any suita-ble sealing medium, as for example rubber tubing partially embedded in and secured in shallow grooves as shown at 39.

At a point immediately beneath the bottom of the lids or covers 38, the ice-holding chambers are provided with air inlets or passages 40, whereby the air in the upper part of the display compartment is permitted to pass into the refrigerant-holding chambers 14 above the refrigerating medium; the passages 40 being substantially at the uppermost point in the display compartment, namely at a point just beneath the glass top 36. lVith this construction it is apparent that the rising warm air in the display compartment 15 will be caused to pass toward the ends of the display compartment and into the refrigerant-holding chambers 14, where it will be chilled and caused to drop down through the refrigerating medium or about the ice and thence discharge through the opening 26, at the lowest point in each chamber 14, directly into the bottom of the display compartment 15. As a result of the action just described, it is evident that a complete circulation of air is set up within the case.

The shelves 33 and 34, in practice, are usually filled with article-holding trays", with the result that a. great portion of the chilled air will be induced to low toward the center of the display compartment; being aided by the downwardly sloping bottom, as previously described. The chilled air, of course, comes into contact, by means of the interstices in the shelves, with the bottoms ofthe platters or trays or food articles and chills the same in its passagetoward the center of the compartment where the shelf 33 is provided with a large unobstructed opening 41, preferably disposed transversely of the shelf 33, which permits the air to rise. The opening 41 is at a point immediately above the drain of the case and therefore above the lowest point in the compartment. In order to maintain this opening 41 unobstructed, and at the same time prevent articles falling therethrough, I provide a suitable wire cage, as at 42, adapted to rest on the inner bottom of the case and extend through the openings 41 a distance somewhat above the level of the shelf 33, as shown in Figure 1. The wire cage 42 is so constructed as to permit free upward flow of the air, while at the same time preventing the improper placing of platters or articles thereon whereby proper flow of the air would' be hindered. I t is apparent that when the shelf 33 has been filled with platters or articles, the air discharged from the refrigerant-holding chambers will be forced to flow toward the center and caused to rise through the opening 41 and cage 42 toward the top of the display compartment and cause the warm air to move toward the passages 40 of chambers 14, thereby inducing a current of air throughout the entire display compartment from a central point toward the ends thereof, namely through the openings 40 into the chambers 14, thence down and out through openings 26 as previously described; while at the same time the cold water from the melting ice will also assist in cooling the compartment. WWith this construction the entire display compartment 15 will be affected by the chilled air discharged from the refrigerant-holding chambers and a thorough circulation induced throughout the display case. By leaving a small portion of the metallic walls of chambers 14 exposed adjacent the top of the display case as shown at 32, I have found in practice that any condensation that may occur in the compa-rtment 15, will form or take place on this a small expiosed chilled metallic wall,- by reason of t e air currents, instead of on the glass, with the result that a clear vision will at all times be provided. I prefer to provide the refrigerant-holding chambers 14 with auxiliary cold air ducts, shown in the nature of conduits 43 secured to the side wall of the receptacle 25, which is disposed toward the outer end of the display case, and leading from a point near the top of the receptacle down along the side wall and the declining bottom thereof, and terminating at the opening 2,6 which communicates with the bottom of the display compartment. Any suitable number of these ducts may lbe employed and they ma. be secured inl any suitable manner or ormed integral with the side wall of the receptacle; the ducts being formed with closed tops and o'pen lower ends; while the sidesat right angles to the wall of the receptacle are provided with a suitable number of openings adjacent the top as at 44, for the ingress of air. These ducts not only assist in inducing a circulation of air from the upper part of the chambers 14 down into the lower part of the compartment 15 (as the ducts will b e surrounded with -ice), but they also ensure cold air being conveyed in the desired manner in the event that the cracked ice should become packed about the grating 27 and thereby partially shut off the flow of air from the main portion of the receptacle 25. In practice, I prefer to have the grating 27 formed so as to leave the outlet at the lower ends of the ducts 43 open, as shown more clearly in Fi ure 2.v

n order to enable the temperature in the compartment 15 to be somewhat controlled, I provide the dampers 45 which are pivotally secured at their upper ends beneath the insulated wall 30 and arranged to entirely or or more grooved cleats 47, see Figure 5,`

adapted to rock on the strip or cleat 48 secured to the bottom of the chamber. In order to enable the tilting action of vthe receptacle the upper ends of the side walls are made arcuate, While the'lowermost, portion or tip disposed toward the dis lay compartment is preferably truncate or cut away, as shown, and the grating 49 therefore is disposed at an inclination. The opening at the lower side of the receptacle is, however, in close proximity to and disposed directly toward the opening in the ottom ofthe chamber 14 leading into the display compartment. This opening, like in the construction shown inFigure 1, is also referably provided with a damper l45.

hen this construction is emplo ed, the end wall of the display case is pre erably provided with a properly insulated and suitably hinged door or member 50 whereby access to the receptacle may be had; the latter being provided with Iany suitable handle or grasp, as at 51. With this construction, the ice-holding receptacle 46 may be readily tilted outwardly when. door 50 is opened for the purpgse of charging with cracked ice, or

it may easily removed from the chamber 14 and taken to'any suitable place to be recharged or supplied with the ice 'and salt.

In Figure 4, I also illustrate a method `of the ice chambers.

of arranging the cover or lid 38 for the top of the refrigerant-holding chamber in the event that the display case is employed during cold weather,'that is in situations Where the outer temperature about the display case l is sufficiently cool to permi-t the employment of the case without the use of a refrigerant medium. Where such use is contemplated, it is essential that proper circulation be maintained in the case and at the same time prevent insects and the like entering the case or fixture. For occasions of this sort, the opening in the top of the refrigerant-holding chamber or chambers may be provided with a wire netting or screen, as at 52, adapted to extend int@i the opening in the upper part of the chamber or chambers and rest on the off-set walls about the opening, as shown; While the upper part ofthe wire netting or cage is made so as to receive the depending portion of the cover or lid as shown. With an opening thus provided at the uppermost point in the display case, it is evident that upon opening any one or more of the doors 1n the lower part of the display compartment, namely at a point near the floor, extraneous air will be allowed to enter the bottom of the display compartment and the warmer air Within the case will pass upward therethrough and into the refrigerant-holding chambers through the various air p-assages or vents 40. If desired, one or more of the door-openings in the display compartment may be provided with screens and the doors of said compartment permitted to remain open.

As is evident from the preceding specification, one of the chief novel'features of my invention exists in roviding a solid, insulated bottom to tlie. refrigerant-holding chamber or chambers ;-which chambers are arranged immediately adjacent the ends of the display compartment ;-and providing the lowest point of said chambers with an opening or. air passage directly into the lower part of the display compartment. With this arrangement the cold air will be discharged directly into the display compartment where its effect on the temperature of4 the compartment will immediately occur.

y invention overcomes the serious objections encountered with display cases as heretofore constructed, wherein an air space beneath the refrigerant-holding chamber or receptacle has been provided, which space had to be chilled before any effect on the air or temperature in the display compartment was had. This has been found to be a serious objection because it resulted in an improper refrigerated display compartment; and also required a greater quantity of ice being used, due to more frequent charging On` the other hand, with my Vimproved construction, the temperature of the display compartment can be more readily maintained at the desired degree and the desired degree of temperature in the display compartment very promptly obtained after the refrigerantholding chambers or receptacles have been properly charged. The above mentioned feature, as well as the other features of novelty, are set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A displaycase provided with insulated walls and consisting of a. display compartment having a glass sid'e'and top and a water-sealed drain or outlet in the bottom, refrigerant-holding chambers, at the ends of said compartment, provided with downwardly sloping closed bo'ttoms, the side walls of each chamber adjacent the lowest point in the bottom being provided with an opening leading directly into the bottom of said display compartment, ail` passages adjacent the top of said compartment leading into the upper part of said chambers, and airducts in said chambers extending downwardly within the chambers and alo-ng the bottoms thereof and terminating at the opening leading into the display compartment.

2. A refrigerator case of the character described, provided with a display compartment and 'refrigerant-holding chambers having insulated walls and bottoms, the side walls of the refrigerant-holding chambers adjacent the lowest par't of the bottoms` thereof being provided Wit-h openings leading directly into the bottom of the display compartment, the inner walls of the refrigerant-holding chambers being made of metal, with the side walls disposed toward the display compartment being insulated from said openings to a point slightly removed from the tops thereof to provide an exposed chilled metallic wall in the upper part of the' display compartment for the condensation of the moisture in the warm air, air-passages in said side walls of the refrigerant-holding chambers immediately adjacent the tops of said chambers for. conveying warm air from the display compartment into said chambers, and means, controllable from the case exterior, whereby the openings at the bottoms of the chambers may be partially or entirely closed and the flow of cold air into the bottom of the display compartment regulated,

3. A re rigerator case of the character described, provided with an insulated bottom and walls and formed to provide a display compartment and refrigerant-holding chain bers a't opposite ends thereof, the inner bottoms of said chambers and compartment sloping downwardly from .opposite ends of the case toward the center of the display compartment, air-paages arranged at the immediate tops and bottoms in the walls between the chambers and said compartment,

compartment, regulable means for regu-` la'ting the size of the lower air-passages, the display compartment being provided with one or more shelves disposed from end to end of said compartment and arranged in spaced relation with the bottom thereof, the shelf nearest the bottom being provided with an enlarged opening at a point immediately above the lowest point of the inner bottom of the display compartment to permit upward passage of air. v

4. A refrigerator case of the character described, provided with insulated walls and bot'tom and formed to provide a display compartment and a refrigerant-holding chamber at one side of the compartment, the refrigerant-holding chamber being providedat topa-nd bottom with openings directly into said display compartment, metallic air-ducts in said chamber disposed downwardly and along the bottom thereof and; y

communicating with the bottom of said compartment, said air-ducts also communicating with the upper end of said chamber to convey air therefrom.

5. In a refrigerator case of the character described, a display compartment and a refrigerant-holding chamber arranged at the end of the compartment, the refrigerantholding chamber being formed with a solid bottom sloping downwardly toward the bottom of the display compartment, with an air-passage at the lowest point in said chamber leading into said compartment, a tiltable refrigerant-holding receptacle fulcrumed in said chamber adjacent the upper end of the sloping bottom of the receptacle, while the side adjacent the lowest end of said bottom is provided with an opening disposed toward and in closeproximity to said airpassage, mea-ns whereby ice is prevented from passing through said opening and passage, the side wall of the receptacle, removed from; the display compartment, being provided with air-ducts extending from top to bottom and to said opening at the opposite side, a closable opening in the side wall of said chamber through which access to said receptacle may be had and the latter tilted therethrough, and an air-passage between said compartment and said chamber at the immediate top thereof.

WILLIAM T. HUENING.

Witnesses:

G. I-IEIDMAN, F, A. FLoRELL. 

